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Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

The Best Winter Doormats

December 1, 2021

I always feel a bit sad putting away my Christmas decorations. I never know what to put in their place! I have fall decor, Halloween decor, Thanksgiving decor, Christmas decor – but nothing for winter!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

One area I love to focus on is my front stoop. I have a wreath for each season as well as a doormat for the holidays and seasons. I’ve rounded up some cool doormats for winter that aren’t Christmas or holiday themed!

Here, I’ve collected the best doormats for winter!

1’6″x2’6″ Come In and Cozy Up Doormat Black – Threshold

Briarwood Lane Winter Snowmen Coir Doormat Welcome Natural Fiber Outdoor 18″x30″

1’6″x2’6″ Snowflakes Holiday Layering Doormat Red – Wondershop

DII Natural Coir Doormat, Checkers Mat, Checkers Welcome, 18X30″

Ninamar Door Mat Winter Snowflakes Natural Coir – 29.5 x 17.5 inch

1’4″x2’4″ Trees Holiday Doormat – Wondershop

Calloway Mills 121041729R Holiday Snowman Doormat

DII Indoor/Outdoor Natural Coir Holiday Season Doormat, 18×30, Snowplace Like Home

Briarwood Lane Cardinal Winter Coir Doormat Natural Fiber Welcome Bird 18″ x 30″

1’6″x2’6″ Hello Winter Holiday Layering Doormat – Wondershop


Do you use a doormat? Do you have seasonal doormats?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • Simple Autumn Pumpkin Pancakes
  • Sunday Night Routine for a Successful Week
  • 10 Cozy Christmas Decor Items Under $10
  • Cloth Diapering with Charlie Banana

Filed in: Home, Living • by Olivia • 2 Comments

The Best Chanukah Books for Babies and Toddlers

November 29, 2021

Chanukah season is upon us!

This year, Chanukah runs from the evening of Sunday, November 28th through Monday, December 6th.

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

“The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.” Hanukkah, History.com


Books can be a great way to teach the story of Chanukah to young kids and also make great gifts!

Check out the following books to help ring in the Chanukah holiday this year!


The Eight Knights of Hanukkah by Leslie Kimmelman

Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg

Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel

Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel

The Night Before Hanukkah by Natasha Wing

Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights (Big Golden Book) by Bonnie Bader

Goodnight Bubbala by Sheryl Haft

Clifford Celebrates Hanukkah by Norman Bridwell

Happy Hanukkah, Little Dreidel (Finger Puppet Board Book) by Brick Puffinton

Happy Hanukkah, Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

Happy Hanukkah, Curious George by H.A. Rey

The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll


Do you celebrate Chanukah? Do your kids have a favorite Chanukah book?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • 10 Cozy Farmhouse Decor Items Under $20 for Winter 2021
  • The Best Books for Baby’s First Birthday
  • 5 Free Indoor Places to Go with Baby
  • Why Your Child Needs a Doll featuring Madame Alexander!

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • Leave a Comment

5 Free Indoor Places to Go with Baby

November 23, 2021

The cold weather is finally upon us!

If you’re like me, or a human being in general, you know how hard it is to be cooped up with your baby during the cold winter months.

Over here, we do our best to take advantage of the sunny days and get as much fresh air as we can. But, there are still days where its raining or just too cold to be outdoors.

Going out to eat or taking classes can add up quickly, and as a mom on a budget I’m always looking for free things to do to break up the day.

Here are five indoor places to go with your baby when the weather is bad!

Library

If you haven’t picked up a library card yet, you’re missing out! Libraries have so much more than books to offer. Movies, newspapers, computers, and free events are just the start. I didn’t have a library card until I got sick of reading the same books to my daughter. We made our way down to our local library and both got our very own library cards! I love taking Baby M there every week to refresh her reading selection. They have huge colorful carpet that we like to play on while were there. It’s a great way to get out of the house and get a change of scenery.

Libraries also offer what are most commonly referred to as Museum Passes, which are passes you can reserve to get into local museums, parks, and events for free! Where we are, you can reserve up to two a month and get into so many fun (and expensive) places around here – from the fish hatchery to the Intrepid in New York City.

Visit a Gallery

Galleries are a great place to visit on a gloomy day! If you’re little one is still at an age where they can be contained, head to a gallery.

Pet Store

It’s the free zoo, baby! I take my daughter to the pet store almost weekly. The fish are her favorite. Most of the time, we pick up some cat food for our LuLu or a toy. We found a pet store that has adoptable kittens and I’m always so tempted to bring one home! The pet store is an easy way to buy time between activities, too.

Next, I want to take my baby to an aquarium store!

Visit a Friend

If you have a friend that work in retail or the likes, why not pay them a visit? This can be such a treat for a friend – and it is a great way to break up the day!

Museum

Hear me out, there are a few ways to do this for free! One option is to find a free museum. Another is to see if they have discounted or free days, or to use those museum passes I mentioned earlier in this post. Visiting a museum is a wonderful way to foster a love of art and exploration in your little ones.


What do you do with your baby when the weather is bad? Are you fine with being inside all day? Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • 7 Things I Do Every Day as a Stay at Home Mom
  • The Best Baby Advice I’ve Received
  • Packing My Diaper Bag in 2021
  • Why Your Baby Needs a Doll with Madame Alexander

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 11 Comments

The Best Christmas Books for Babies

November 11, 2021

The holiday season is a special time for families, and what better way to celebrate than by introducing your little ones to the magic of Christmas through books? Even the youngest readers can get in on the festive fun with these best Christmas books for babies.

Whether you’re looking for classic tales or new releases, these books are sure to delight and entertain your little ones with bright colors, cheerful illustrations, and heartwarming stories. So snuggle up with your baby, grab a cup of cocoa, and enjoy the holiday season with these must-read Christmas books.

Read more

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • Leave a Comment

Zero Waste Laundry with Kind Laundry

November 10, 2021

I’m getting my house ready for pregnancy #2!

Yes, pregnancy #2. My first pregnancy had a rough start. I had terrible morning sickness – I spent the first 20 weeks hunched over the toilet or asleep.

I’ve partnered with Kind Laundry to make an effort to stock up on supplies and finesse my systems for pregnancy #2! Kind Laundry’s products are not only zero waste and non-toxic, but actually work.

I’m making a conscious effort this month to get different aspects of my life ready for another pregnancy. This time, I’ll be taking care of a toddler and I won’t have the luxury of sleeping all day like last time. I have closets that need to be cleaned out, freezer meals that need to be made, and items that I need to stock up on so I don’t have to be constantly running to the store.

In addition to stocking up on household items, it’s time to more towards non-toxic household products. Kind Laundry uses 5 simple non-toxic ingredients, which is perfect for my sensitive skin and gentle enough for my one year old’s skin too.

I’ve broken down their products below, to give you a better idea of what Kind Laundry has to offer!


Thank you to Kind Laundry for partnering with me on this post. All opinions are my own. For more information on Kind Laundry and their products head to www.kindlaundry.com.

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you.


Stain Removal Bar

The stain removal bar is a plant based bar that can be used by getting it wet an rubbing on the stain before washing. I used this on my daughter’s clothes and was pleased with the results.

Dryer Balls

These have been on my list to buy forever! Dryer balls are used to reduce drying time and prevent static. Kind’s are 100% pure New Zealand wool.

Laundry Bag

A mesh laundry bag was also on my list of things to buy before the next baby! There’s nothing worse then putting 10 newborn socks in the wash and somehow only ending up with 8. I swear my washing machine eats baby socks. Using a mesh bag keeps everything in one place during the process.

Laundry Detergent Sheets

I’ll admit, this is where I was most skeptical. My daughter is eating solids 4x a day now, which is like an instant mess every time. I always end up covered in whatever she’s eating (don’t ask me how!). My husband and I each work out 5x a week. So basically, we make a lot of stinky laundry.

The detergent sheets just need to be thrown in the wash, no measuring required.

I was shocked and impressed how well they cleaned. Our laundry smelled great and didn’t leave any of that gummy residue feeling on my hands after I touched it. The detergent sheets definitely passed the wash test over here.


If you’re looking for laundry products that fight stains while also being non-toxic, zero waste, and biodegradable, check out Kind Laundry! Their products save space,

Did you have a rough pregnancy? Do you use non-toxic products in your home?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • Pregnancy #2 is Mentally on the Way!
  • Cloth Diapering with Charlie Banana
  • Back to School Chaos? 5 Ways to Simplify Your Life
  • How to Build a Portable Breastfeeding Bin

Filed in: Home, Uncategorized • by Olivia • 9 Comments

Your Baby Doesn’t Need to Sleep Through the Night

November 9, 2021

I don’t know who needs to hear it, but your baby doesn’t need to sleep through the night.

If your baby doesn’t sleep through the night, there’s nothing wrong with that.

There’s nothing wrong with your baby.

There’s nothing wrong with you.


“If you go in to the bedroom to help her fall asleep, don’t make eye contact. It’ll keep her from falling asleep,” I said to my husband.

Our daughter had to be maybe two months old, if that.

I followed lots of baby sleep Instagram accounts. There’s one in particular with millions of followers, who I won’t mention by name. It’s the Ferber method with cute little acronyms. I heard words like “sleep crutch” or “bad habit”.

I was indoctrinated to believe that there was something wrong with me and something wrong with my baby when she didn’t sleep through the night.

We never sleep trained, but I was beginning to use techniques that I had heard on these pages, such as not making eye contact for fear of stimulating my child’s brain. I thought there was something wrong with me for nursing her to sleep.

My daughter slept in three hour clusters for probably the first year of her life.

I thought I was damaging my kid by meeting her needs. I would get up for her every time she cried. Sometimes she was ravenous, other times she just needed a hug and a kiss and it was back to bed. Sometimes she had a bad dream and just wanted to be comforted.

There were so many nights I got just a few hours of sleep and so many mornings where I could barely function.

I thought I was a bad mom.


We decided we weren’t going to let her cry.

I don’t remember how it happened, or if it started truly was a conscious decision as first.

I was the one to get up with the baby (I had the boobs and I didn’t have a job). My husband understood that some nights were harder than others. We got a lot of takeout and I let the laundry go another day and no one died.

It’s what worked best for our family.

I unfollowed all those accounts.

I didn’t need to defend myself to anyone.

I could complain that I was exhausted and that didn’t mean I had to sleep train.

I vented to people who respected my decision and let me say how tired I was without needing to provide a solution. I hold those friends very close to my heart.


People love to ask two questions when you have a new baby, “are they good?” and “how is she sleeping? and they both are indescribably absurd. All babies are good babies. What does that even mean? And are they sleeping? Who cares. Are you sleeping? Great.

Recently, a mother of a 6 month old was telling me how her baby slept 11 hours the night before and offered to send me some tips. I nodded and said thank you.

And for a moment, that feeling came back.

That feeling that I was doing something wrong.

Or worse, feeling I was doing my baby a disservice by not meeting her needs. How crazy is that?

Of course, I came home and told my husband and reaffirmed my decision to get up with my daughter when she needed me.


I fully believe in my heart and maternal instincts that I’m doing and have done the right thing. The truth is that motherhood can be a wasteland – a vast expanse of loneliness and isolation. A lot of the times we’re making decisions for our children that aren’t supported or understood. The indistinguishable competition of motherhood is ruthless and unforgiving. It has no finish line or barometer. Most of the time I think we’re competing with each other in a desperate attempt to soothe our own defenselessness against the world.

I stand firm in my choice to accept my daughters needs and to listen to her.

I know this is a controversial topic. Maybe I’m putting this here because I don’t want to offend anyone in my life outside of this blog. Parenting is messy and in America today, mothers will likely never come out on top.

O.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 21 Comments

Pregnancy #2 is Mentally on the Way!

November 7, 2021

Pregnancy #2 is on the way!

You read that right, pregnancy #2.

Not baby #2, not yet at least.

When I was pregnant with my almost one-year-old, I couldn’t imagine wanting another baby so soon. Little did I know, baby fever came back almost instantly.

I was 100% in the get-this-demon-out-of-my-body camp once I hit 35 weeks. I did everything I could to encourage her out (see my post on 5 Things I Did to Go into Labor Naturally).

Once she was out, I insisted on walking from the labor unit to the maternity ward. I felt so good (hello oxytocin & adrenaline). I was so excited to have my daughter in my arms and so excited to just not be pregnant anymore.

It lasted 3 days.

By the time we got home, I was crying that I missed my big belly and lamenting the absence of my little one’s kicks inside me.

Even throughout the sleepless nights, the throw up, the blowouts, there’s never been a question about having more kids.

I never thought I would be ready for another one so soon. I had long planned on a two year split for my own personal reasons, but when I was pregnant this seemed very close.

Now, I feel ready for #2. Baby M is sleeping through the night and this blog is heading in a great direction. I feel fulfilled in my home life and “work” life. I know that another baby is going to be hard and take work, just like most rewarding things in my life.

So, it’s time to get ready for pregnancy #2. I’m going to be documenting the changes I’m making to my body and home in the next few weeks.

Here’s to #2!

Do you have kids? How did you space yours out?

Let me know below!
O.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 2 Comments

The Best Books for Baby’s First Birthday

November 4, 2021

That’s a lot of B’s!

If your baby is coming up on their first birthday, be sure to check out these books!

My daughter’s birthday is this month and the gifts on the top of her wish list are all books. Reading is her favorite activity and there’s nowhere she’d rather be than cuddled in my lap reading Where’s Spot? for the thousandth time.

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

We fostered this love of books by reading to Baby M the day she got home from the hospital. I remember hearing that you can even start reading to them when your pregnant, but I found this really…weird when I tried it. So, we just started once she was born.

The other way we encourage reading is by making books always available and accessible. She has a basket of books at every play station (like in her room or on her mat in the kitchen). This way, she is initiating the activity rather than waiting for us to tell her what to do.

Using small board books with thick pages that are easy for little fingers to maneuver has really helped our daughter take to books. Right now, she is into lift-the-flap books. We rotate her selection and visit the library to find new books to keep her reading material fresh. My favorite thing to do is to take her to the library and check out books with a theme, like autumn or dogs or New York City.

Since her birthday is coming up, were definitely getting Baby M some birthday themed books!

Here are the best books for baby’s first birthday!

Happy Birthday from The Very Hungry Caterpillar (The World of Eric Carle) by Eric Carle

Now You Are One by Minnie Birdsong

Dr. Seuss’s Happy Birthday, Baby! by Dr. Seuss

Bear’s Birthday by Stella Blackstone

You’re One! by Shelly Unwin

On the Day You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

Spot’s Birthday Party by Eric Hill

Birthday Monsters! by Sandra Boynton

The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

Baby Touch and Feel: Happy Birthday by DK

Where Is Baby’s Birthday Cake?: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz


Does your little one like to read? How did you celebrate your baby’s first birthday?

Let me know below.

O.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 2 Comments

Cloth Diapering with Charlie Banana

November 3, 2021

If you’re not already a cloth diapering fanatic, I know that you must be thinking it’s just so much work. I’m here to tell you that it’s not – and that you should definitely give it a try!

I’ve recently become a believer and I’m so happy I just went for it and hopped on the cloth diaper train.

Cloth diapers are a great way to save money and save the environment. Not to mention, they come in much cuter prints than disposable diapers.

Charlie Banana was kind enough to gift me the products mentioned in this post!

Thank you to Charlie Banana for partnering with me on this post! This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off of purchases, with no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.

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What Do You Need to Cloth Diaper?

I’ll be straight with you – there is an upfront cost to cloth diapering. Once you have your supplies, it evens out quickly. We were spending over $60/month on disposable Pampers for our 11 month old.

The easiest way to cut costs is to go with an All-in-One (AIO) diaper. They are the biggest bang-for-your-buck and will last a long time.

Charlie Banana Sizing

The first thing you will need is a shell. Here’s where you get to choose adorable prints to fit your little one’s personality!

Next, you can either do a reusable fleece insert OR a disposable insert that tucks into the diaper.

And that’s it!

Charlie Banana also makes reusable wipes, swim diapers, and wet bags.

How to Cloth Diaper

The first thing is to wash the items in 40C water. Next, hang to dry or tumble dry on low.

Then, you’re all ready to start! Simply insert the disposable liner or fleece insert into the shell and snap onto baby! They will take care of the rest.

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

This is the part that scares people off – I promise you it’s not that bad!

If you’re a parent, your probably already used to all kinds of bodily fluid and you’re probably a master at disposing of yuckies without getting it anywhere, so this should be a breeze.

Disposable inserts can simply be discarded like a typical diaper.

For fleece or reusable liners, put any solids into the toilet and rinse any excess residue. Store the inserts and diaper in a dry or wet pail to store until its time to wash. Wash them in 40C water with diaper-friendly detergent and tumble dry on low or hang to dry.

That’s it!

Avoid bleach, hot water, and high dryer settings.

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Pros to Cloth Diapering

There are so many positives that come along with cloth diapering!

I would argue that the biggest one is shrinking your carbon footprint. Disposable diapers end up in landfills and contribute to climate change. We need to leave a better planet for our children. Making small changes like using cloth diapers or reusable wipes teaches little ones young that the choices we make matter. We are not helpless.

Another plus side to cloth diapering is the cost! No more trips to Target or Walmart to get diapers every month. With cloth diapers, you know that you won’t run out.

Charlie Banana’s diapers are super soft and gentle on the diaper area. In my experience, they cause less irritation.

And of course, who doesn’t love choosing super cute prints!

Cons to Cloth Diapering

The only real downside that I’ve experienced with cloth diapering is extra laundry. I use a combination of the disposable inserts and cloth inserts. The disposable inserts can just be thrown away while the cloth ones need to be washed.

I do not cloth diaper when we’re leaving the house or when someone else is watching the baby, for simplicity’s sake.

Again, there is an upfront cost, but this quickly evens out. You can even buy gently used shells on eBay and pass them down from kid to kid. Charlie Banana’s shells are durable and built to last.

Why Charlie Banana?

Charlie Banana is the go to choice for parents because of their commitment to quality and care for babies and the planet! I was happily surprised by how soft their products are and how well they’ve held up!

They have so many cute prints to choose from and other sustainable household items to choose from.

From their website:

We know that single-use plastics can have a devastating impact on our environment – and reversing that impact means creating products that are gentle on baby’s skin and gentle on the planet. That’s why every Charlie Banana diaper is made with the softest materials, Climate Neutral Certified, and benefits environmental causes through our pledge to donate 1% for the Planet.


I’m honestly kind of bummed I waited this long to try cloth diapering – it’s so much less work than I had imagined. I feel like I’m making a small dent in my family’s carbon footprint and I love that I’ll be able to reuse the diapers with my next kids. I will definitely be cloth diapering baby #2!

Do you currently cloth diaper? Is it something you’d want to try? Have you heard of Charlie Banana? Let me know below!

O.

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Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 6 Comments

Thanksgiving Dinner This-or-That Printable

November 2, 2021

Put the Halloween decorations away – it’s turkey time! Here is a Thanksgiving dinner this-or-that printable PDF!

The history we share about Thanksgiving has changed over time – and rightfully so. It’s about time we start telling the real story and honor those who were here before us.

Despite the change in tone and message of the holiday, one this has stayed the same: the FOOD!

Thanksgiving dinner is one of the most recognizable and celebrated meals in America. The mashed potatoes, the stuffing, the turkey…it’s America’s specialty.

Although not as contentious as the conversation around Native Americans and Columbus, Thanksgiving dinner has it’s own slew of controversies.


My family had a mini-Thanksgiving feast to celebrate the first day of autumn, and I am remorseful to share that my daughter’s first experience with cranberry sauce came from a can. I’m a homemade cranberry sauce girl while my husband prefers the classic, sliced Ocean Spray stuff.

It brought up a lively debate over other Thanksgiving foods. Should the stuffing be homemade or store-bought? What part of the turkey is best? We don’t agree on any of it. Opposites attract, right? Thank goodness we’re not in charge of making Thanksgiving dinner, we’re just in charge of eating it.


Here is a Thanksgiving dinner this-or-that printable PDF that you can share on Thanksgiving day. You can read it with your kids on the way to Grandma’s or print one out for everyone at your table.

Thanksgiving Dinner This-or-ThatDownload

Do you also share strong opinions about Thanksgiving dinner? Is there something you just won’t serve at your table?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • Thanksgiving Traditions to Start with Your Kids this Year
  • Thanksgiving Gifts for Babies
  • The Best Thanksgiving Books for Infants and Toddlers
  • 10 Thanksgiving Decorations Under $10

Filed in: Living • by Olivia • 1 Comment

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